Senators approved a bill today that would forbid large resorts around the Metolius Basin, moving the debate over development in the scenic Central Oregon area to the House.

The proposal, Senate Bill 30, has sparked sometimes passionate positions on state-vs.-local control of land-use laws, rural development and the river itself.

The bill passed 19-11 and next is expected to be assigned to a House committee.

Before the Senate vote, bill supporters spoke about the special characteristics of the Metolius Basin -- its spring-fed flows, trout populations and pine forests -- that they said merit special protections.

"This is not a land-use fight over some chunk of sagebrush or even class A farm ground," said Sen. Ben Westlund, D-Bend, the bill's sponsor. "This is the Metolius Basin."

But such protection would pre-empt a decision in December by the Jefferson County commission to allow two resorts in the basin, opponents argued. "This is a horrible precedent," said Sen. Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day, who represents Jefferson County.

Bill supporters suffered a setback earlier this month when a Senate committee removed language explicitly forbidding resorts in or around the basin. But another committee later reinserted that provision, and it passed in that form today.